Executive Director, Philadelphia Cultural Fund

Posted by Philadelphia Cultural Fund on March 23, 2015

The Philadelphia Cultural Fund (“PCF” or the “Fund”) seeks an Executive Director to provide leadership and vision in fulfillment of the Fund’s mission of supporting and enhancing the cultural life and vitality of Philadelphia and its residents by promoting arts and culture as engines of social and economic development. The Cultural Fund is an independent, community-focused non-profit corporation that since its founding in 1992 has awarded more than $40 million in grants to Philadelphia-based arts and culture organizations. Currently, all funding for PCF comes from the City of Philadelphia. The Fund is governed by an 18 member Board of Directors of which the Mayor and City Council each appoints 4 members and the remaining 10 are drawn from the community.

Primary Executive Director Responsibilities:
• Guide the continued evolution of PCF as a collaborative, learning organization with a clear mission, well-articulated strategies and a positive culture.
• Ensure sound fiscal management and efficiency of operations.
• Inspire, develop and manage the Fund’s staff and volunteers.
• Support and partner with the Fund’s Board to foster informed governance.
• Advocate for the interests of PCF and its diverse constituents by leveraging strategic alliances with other regional arts and cultural organizations.
• Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with all Fund stakeholders – including grantees, applicants, volunteer grant panelists, Philadelphia City Council, Philadelphia’s Office, of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the City Controller, the Fund’s Board of Directors and local media.

A detailed description of the Executive Director’s Essential Functions is available on PCF’s website: http://www.philaculturalfund.org/executive-search

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director:

• Has exceptional leadership, organizational and communication skills honed through at least 10 years of senior management experience in an arts and culture organization (or with a governmental body or other entity dealing with arts and culture)
• Is passionate about service to the community, is politically dexterous and adept at hands-on engagement with diverse groups
• Is willing and able to travel throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and if need be nationally
• Has a graduate degree (or a minimum of a bachelor’s degree plus significant work experience)

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, salary requirements and contact information for two references to: executivesearch@philaculturalfund.org.

Deadline for submission is April 10, 2015.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT
Approximate Time Allocation 30%

• In collaboration with the Grants Committee Chair, conceive, compose, produce and disseminate grant guidelines to target audiences. Ensure that PCF remains at the forefront of thinking of ways to provide general operating support and to target and embrace non-501(c)(3) entities, consistent with PCF’s mission and established due diligence procedures.
• Oversee the competitive process, from initial inquiries through proposal review. Guide recipients through the application and evaluation process, providing assistance as needed. Ensure that all proposals are diligently reviewed at all steps in the process according to the pre-defined criteria and systems for review.
• Actively manage PCF’s grant application submission and review processes, including the phased implementation of the redesigned three-year cross-disciplinary panel approach. Marshal and coordinate the resources of outside vendors.
• Collegially orient Board members on how to lead the panel meetings.
• Recruit, background-check and train peer panelists to ensure a high quality application evaluation process. Coordinate peer panelists’ site visitation schedules with applicants.
• Notify candidates of the outcomes and ensure appropriate publicity.
• Establish and maintain strong cooperative relationships with all grantees.
• Ensure that all grantees’ status is tracked, monitoring interim and final reporting activities.

GENERAL OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Approximate Time Allocation 25%

• Recruit, lead and develop full and part-time employees who can successfully interact with all internal and external constituencies to help achieve the core objectives, while preserving and maintaining a positive reputation for PCF.
• Foster role clarity, high performance and an effective reward framework.
• Encourage an overall spirit of teamwork and collaboration within the organization.
• Ensure sound fiscal management of the organization. Present periodic reports to the Finance Committee, the Executive Committee and the full Board.
• Oversee general record keeping and administrative services, including design and maintenance of files, website and database, preparation and management of routine correspondence, maintenance of records and preparation of other routine administrative documents.
• Ensure that PCF’s financial recordkeeping is current at all times, including maintenance of financial records, maintenance of bank accounts, preparation of checks for disbursements, and preparation of periodic financial reports for management and for tax preparation.

OTHER: Carry out other such duties as may be assigned or requested by PCF’s Board.

GOVERNANCE AND BOARD RELATIONS
Approximate Time Allocation 15%

• Serve as staff to the Board of Directors. Provide all necessary information to assist the Board in strategic planning, program and policy development, articulation and implementation of organizational goals. Support the work of the Board’s standing (Executive, Nominating/Governance, Grants, Finance/Audit and Communications) and special committees as necessary.
• Attend and provide administrative support for all PCF Board Committee meetings, including the recording and submission of minutes in a timely manner.

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY
Approximate Time Allocation 15%

• Actively advocate for the interests of PCF and its constituents, cultivating and leveraging strong strategic alliances with other regional arts and cultural organizations. Promote success stories of PCF’s constituents and grantees to lift them up, and to help build PCF’s own “brand.” In close collaboration with the Board, ensure the development and effective implementation of government relations and public relations strategies and policies designed to create an overarching identity and accompanying robust brand for PCF. Foster and maintain PCF’s positive image and constructive relationships with the regional cultural community, employees, the City, other grantmaking organizations, governmental entities, the media and the general public. Serve as lead spokesperson for PCF in all public communications; represent PCF at public functions, as necessary and appropriate.
• Serve as primary spokesperson for the organization, maintaining and enhancing the organization’s visibility and reputation in the community.
• Utilize all appropriate media to create and maintain publicity procedures to grow community awareness of PCF, and a strong sense of community and learning among the grantees. This includes establishment of appropriate online and print communication, potential sponsorship of events and group meetings, and attendance at relevant symposia and conferences. Actively ensure PCF has an enduring positive reputation.
• Help constituents find high-quality, often discounted services to fulfill critical needs.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Approximate Time Allocation 15%

• Oversee the conceptualization, development, implementation and evaluation of strategies for furthering the achievement of PCF’s overall vision, mission and program goals, and direct all aspects of the operationalization of those strategies. Make solid long-term decisions, to ensure that PCF achieves the right outcomes in advancing knowledge in the field and improving practice.
• Oversee the continued growth of a unified, efficient and well-functioning organization, including the creation of a durable infrastructure.
• Engage local, regional and national parties appropriate to help PCF achieve its objectives, including by maintaining positive relationships with Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, City Council and the City Controller.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the job responsibilities, duties, skill, or working conditions. In addition, this document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.